Birth Control

The cervical cap is a silicone cup shaped like a sailor's hat. You insert it into your vagina and over your cervix. FemCap is the only brand of cervical cap available in the United States today. To learn more about the FemCap, watch this short video.

Condoms are worn on the penis during intercourse. They are made of thin latex or plastic that has been molded into the shape of a penis. They prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

The diaphragm (DIE ah fram) is a shallow, dome-shaped cup with a flexible rim. It is made of silicone. You insert it into the vagina. When it is in place, it covers the cervix.

Pregnancy doesn't happen right after sex. That's why it's possible to prevent pregnancy even after the fact. It can take up to six days for the sperm and egg to meet after having sex. Emergency contraception pills work by keeping a woman's ovary from releasing an egg for longer than usual. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with sperm.

The "female" condom is a pouch that is used during intercourse to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. It has flexible rings at each end. Just before vaginal intercourse, it is inserted deep into the vagina. The ring at the closed end holds the pouch in the vagina. The ring at the open end stays outside the vaginal opening during intercourse. And during anal intercourse, it is inserted into the anus.

The birth control implant is a thin, flexible plastic implant about the size of a cardboard matchstick. It is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It protects against pregnancy for up to three years. The implant is available under the brand names Implanon and Nexplanon.

The letters IUD stand for "intrauterine device." IUDs are small, "T-shaped" devices made of flexible plastic. A healthcare provider inserts an IUD into a woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of IUD available in the United States: copper (Paragard) and hormonal (Mirena or Skyla).

The birth control patch is a thin, beige, plastic patch that sticks to the skin. It's used to prevent pregnancy. A new patch is placed on the skin once a week for three weeks in a row, followed by a patch-free week.

Birth control pills are a kind of medication that women can take daily to prevent pregnancy. They are also sometimes called “the pill” or oral contraception.

The birth control shot is an injection of a hormone that prevents pregnancy. Each shot prevents pregnancy for three months. The shot is also known by the brand name Depo-Provera.

The sponge is made of plastic foam and contains spermicide. It is soft, round, and about two inches in diameter. It has a nylon loop attached to the bottom for removal. It is inserted deep into the vagina before intercourse.

The vaginal ring is a small, flexible ring a woman inserts into her vagina once a month to prevent pregnancy. It is left in place for three weeks and taken out for the remaining week each month. The vaginal ring is commonly called NuvaRing, its brand name.